ES Starter Problem
 

I just tried to start up my 2002 ES (about 38,000 miles on it) and something strange happened.

I heard the starter spinning a couple of times and then it stopped and I heard a fast ticking sound, sort of like a lot of little very quick electrical zaps. I tried a few more times and the same thing happened. Eventually, I didn't hear the starter at all and it went directly to the fast ticking sound.

Is this something as simple as a dead battery, or a bad starter, or something else?

The battery contacts seem to be ok, but there is a tiny bit of white stuff on two of the large black screws in the top of the battery. The car still has the original battery.

Yep! Dead battery and by the age of it - just ready to be replaced.

No worries, eh?

sounds like the battery to me...did you try to jump start it ?